Writing For A Column

I was stuck at home yesterday because it was raining hard and I thought, “Maybe I should write about how I came to write for a column.” It seemed like a good idea, ergo this blog post. But if you told me five years ago that I would become a columnist, I would have laughed in disbelief.

I set out to become a hospital physician after I got my doctor’s license. But things change. Dreams change. People change.

Whenever I told my parents about a new opinion piece I was working on for my health column, they would look at me with a weird look on their faces. You see, becoming a writer-columnist was something they did not want for me. I initially set out to become a hospital doctor after I got my doctor’s license. But things change. Dreams change. People change.

Writing Roots

I have to admit, I’ve always loved writing since I was little. I remember joining the Secondary Schools Press Conference during high school. I was so excited to even be qualified to join.

All contestants were asked to write a feature article on policemen. Everyone wrote feature articles on cops who became heroes, rescued children from a fire, got injured in the line of duty – you get the idea. I, on the other hand, started my piece with this central question:

“If a cop knocked on your door, would you welcome him to your home?”

When I found out that my article was the only one that went against the grain, the color drained from my face. I remember thinking how dumb I was for not “getting” what they wanted us to write about.

You can then imagine my surprise when they called out my name during the awarding ceremony.

I was lucky to have won first prize during the Secondary Schools Press Conference in my high school years.

Oh, and pardon the bad hair and oily skin – I want to think of myself as a late bloomer, ha ha! Anyway, nerdy look aside, I never thought I would have my very own column years later.

I can’t announce the name of the newspaper where my column is published – at least not yet, as the board has decided to formally launch it at a later date. (Stay tuned for that!) But I can say this much: the health column appears in a national newspaper soon to be found in all Starbucks outlets nationwide, hopefully starting this month. Yippee!

In the next blog post, I share a bullet-point summary of how to write for a column. And yes, it’s not all flowers and cotton candy. But I hope that my bittersweet story shall inspire others to stick to their dreams. In the meantime, feel free to read the Writer’s Manifesto that I follow. How about you, do have your own manifesto? What standards do you follow? Share them via a comment, please!

IF SOMEONE WILL BENEFIT, SHARE IT!

About the bloggerStef dela Cruz is a vegan doctor and writer. She received the 2013 Award for Health Media from the Department of Health. She is the editor of The Manila Bulletin's Animal Scene. Add her Google profile to your circles.

Haha! I hope they're not too shy. What a coincidence, I'm about to write about this gene related to shyness in the next issue of the newspaper! But I digress. Going back to the topic, I hope people don't hesitate to comment. I love reading comments - it feels like I'm sucking on a chocolate truffle whenever there's a new comment here. :)

Hello Stef! Congratulations! That's a really interesting story. I guess great writers are those who think outside the box. Sometimes creative people are made to feel guilty for being different, but that shouldn't be. I also want to be a columnist someday. I hope my dreams will come true too.

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Doctors don't just wear white coats - they also wear many hats! I now don the hat of a humble writer. I hope that by sharing anecdotes about doctors and stories about wellness, I can give you a peek behind the curtain and work with you to keep every Juan and Maria healthy.

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When this blog reached its second month, it became a PageRank 2 website! Thanks to all of you who continue to read, like, and share these articles - you are keeping others healthy and, ultimately, saving lives.

“Sayang naman ang pinag-aralan mo (what a waste your education was).”

That’s what people say when they find out that Stef dela Cruz is a doctor who traded her stethoscope for the humble pen. Her answer to them is this blog, as it is both a means and an end: It explains her decision to swap professions while it is also the very product of her calling to write.

A nurse and doctor who graduated with Latin honors in both degrees at the University of Santo Tomas, she is now a columnist for two print magazines and a website. She also contributes to a national newspaper.

Through her blog, she dreams of healing and saving lives, one article at a time. Join her in her mission – all you have to do is read and share.